“Effect of Maternal Influenza Vaccination on Respiratory Disease among Infants”
Based on Protocol: “Effect of Maternal Influenza Vaccination on Respiratory Disease among Infants” [NNR-02-111]
Background
What is influenza ?
• Influenza is a germ that can make people of any age sick.
• Commonly known as “the flu”
• Is a winter time illness
• Can cause fever, muscle aches, cough, and runny nose, and serious symptoms that require hospitalization
Babies Everywhere Less than 6 Months Old are at High Risk for Influenza Hospitalization
1038
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200
400
600
800
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1200
<6 Months 6-12 Months 1-2 Years 2-4 Years
Age
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Izurietta 2000; Neuzil 2000
How do we prevent it?
** Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza!!
Problem: There is no vaccine for babies less than 6 months of age …
Possible Solution?
…We wanted to see if giving the flu vaccine to pregnant women can protect their babies from the flu
Study Conduct
How was the maternal flu study conducted?
• Study conducted during the “flu season” (cold months of the year) between 2002-2005.
• Enrolled mother-infant pairs immediately after birth and followed infants for 6 months or to the end of “flu season”.
• Tested whether giving the flu vaccine to pregnant women can prevent their babies from getting the flu.
Before Starting the Study We Needed to Get Approval…
• We got approval from Navajo and White Mountain Apache Tribes.
• We also asked mothers for permission to enroll them and their infants in the study.
Who participated in the Study?•1162 infant and mother pairs.
•Service Units participating in the study were: Fort Defiance, Gallup, Chinle, Shiprock, Tuba City, Winslow and Whiteriver.
How was the maternal flu study conducted?
• Blood was collected to test for antibodies (germ fighters) to the influenza virus.
How was the maternal flu study conducted?
• Babies followed throughout the study to see if they went to the doctors for flu-like illness.
How was the maternal flu study conducted?
• If a baby went to the doctors for flu-like illness, secretions from the baby’s nose were collected to test for influenza virus.
How was the maternal flu study conducted?
• All information collected was entered into computer for analysis.
Study Results
1160 mother-infant
pairs
573 given the flu shot
31Lab-confirmed flu
cases
293 Flu-like Symptoms
76 Hospitalized for
flu like symptoms
587 not given the flu
shot
52Lab-confirmed flu
cases
312Flu-like Symptoms
117 Hospitalized for
flu like symptoms
Maternal influenza vaccination helps protect baby against influenza
Conclusions
Influenza vaccination during pregnancy …
1.) Helps prevent babies less than 6 months from getting the flu
2.) Reduces chance of hospitalizations for babies with flu-like symptoms
Acknowledgements
• Participants from the Navajo and White Mountain Apache tribes
• Community members who supported the project• Nurses and research program assistants • IRBs of the Navajo Nation, Phoenix Area IHS, and
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health• The Centers for Disease Control• Indian Health Service for their collaboration and
support
Thank You!!